Riccardo Compagnucci, head of the Italian Interior Ministry΄s immigration office, told Reuters that some migrants could be taken to “Malta and Greece” in order to facilitate rescue operation.  Italian authorities brought the rescued immigrants to the island of Lampedusa after two vessels used satellite phones to dial for help late on Monday.

The migrant boats risked the dangerous sea passage despite a shipwreck on October 3 that killed more than 360, mostly Eritreans, less than a kilometre from Lampedusa. Last Friday, at least 34 more migrants drowned when their boat capsized, though Italian officials say the true figure may be above 200.